Barcelona: Four cheap hotels with personality

In a city so vibrant, it would be a waste to stay somewhere bland! All photos by EuroCheapo

Even in a city as vibrant as Barcelona, staying in a ho-hum hotel can make a grand vacation bland. Your stay will be much more enjoyable if you can find accommodation that feels as alive as the city itself.

Truth be told, though, most of the hotels and hostals featured on EuroCheapo’s Barcelona page have “character.” These select few, however, go above and beyond, and stand out for their unique personality and quirky vibe.

Taking the “Personality Prize” is definitely the Malda, if such a prize existed. It’s not everyday that one can stay in a former Marqués palace for €20 a night. Each of the Hostal Maldà’s 25 rooms is unique. Furnishings are antique—and some are quite worn. It’s bare-bones all the way at this budget palace, but unlike many Barcelona properties, the Maldà’s rooms are large, and, thanks to the hostal’s top-floor location, light filled. (Note that the trade off for natural light is lugging your bags up many stairs.) Family-run, the Malda—and it’s owners—will make you feel at home.

With the view at the Mar-Luz, it’s impossible to forget that you’re deep within the Gothic Quarter.

If the passage of time, and age, give way to character and a strong “personality,” then Pension Mari-Luz has it in its 18th-century walls. This budget-friendly pension is situated deep inside the Barri Gotic, in an area oozing historic charm.

As is typical in Barcelona, the rooms are small at the Pension Mari-Luz. The furnishings are simple and spare: beds or metal bunks, plus maybe a utilitarian nightstand or small desk. Hanging artwork adds pops of color here and there.

The fireside lounge in the Fashion House gives it a cozy, welcoming personality.

Both the place and the owners make this B&B a winner. It’s got flair! It’s got an amazing patio for lounging! It’s got a dramatic fireplace! The Fashion House feels like a “real” house with a cozy, laid-back energy about it. The charismatic Italian owners have paid lots of attention to detail and cleanliness, and their hard work shows—the place is spotless.

Personality can also be bold and chic! Such is the case at this long-time cheapo fave, Banys Orientals, in La Ribera/Born area. The outstanding three-star Hotel Banys Orientals offers 43 rooms in a sought-after setting on Carrer Argenteria, a picture-perfect cobblestone street lined with unique boutiques and bars.

Share your thoughts

Barcelona is full of hotels with tons of personality.Have you stayed in a place with a style all its own (in a good way)? Tell us about it by leaving a comment in the box below.

Want more?

For even more Barcelona hotels, including plenty with vibrant personalities, check out out Barcelona hotel guide.

About the author

About the author: Regina W.Bryan is a Barcelona-based freelance writer and photographer. When not eating tapas and exploring Europe, she is tending her balcony veggie garden and practicing Catalan. For more of her thoughts on Spain, check: www.regwb.com and www.thespainscoop.com.